Short answer
Choose Pattaya for a short, low-cost break from Bangkok and Phuket for a longer trip with Andaman scenery. Pattaya is about 150 km from Bangkok, a two-hour drive according to Wikivoyage, while Phuket is about 862 km south and normally a flight. Pattaya is also the drier of the two: 1,110.7 mm of rain a year on the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981 to 2010 table, against 2,219.5 mm at Phuket. Our Koh Larn day from Pattaya is from $25 per person for about 6 hours; our Phuket speedboat days start at $75.
Distance from Bangkok: 150 km against 862 km
Pattaya is a short trip from Bangkok and Phuket is a long one. Wikipedia puts Pattaya about 150 kilometres south-east of Bangkok, and Wikivoyage calls it a comfortable two-hour drive, with Suvarnabhumi Airport 110 km away and a road transfer of 80 to 90 minutes in dry weather and up to 120 in wet weather. Wikivoyage says the easy access from the capital makes Pattaya a popular weekend getaway.
Phuket is about 862 km south of Bangkok, according to Wikivoyage, and most visitors fly. Wikipedia gives 17.5 million passengers at Phuket International Airport in 2025. Pattaya has no commercial airport of its own: Wikivoyage says the nearest, U-Tapao, is 30 km south of the city, is primarily a military facility and has flights to only a handful of destinations. Our Bangkok to Pattaya guide covers the road options.
Beaches and sea: different coasts, different water
Phuket's beaches face the Andaman Sea on the west coast. Wikivoyage describes Patong as the largest and most popular, Karon as the second most developed and Kamala as quieter. It also says that at Ya Nui the monsoon brings crashing surf and swimming is not advised in those months. Our guide to rip currents and red flags explains what the flags mean on Phuket's west coast.
Pattaya faces the Gulf of Thailand, and the sources are blunter about its beach. Wikivoyage says local efforts have improved the beaches but they are still lacklustre by Thailand's standards. Wikipedia reports that Pattaya Beach was fouled by raw sewage for a week in July 2017 and that the regional environmental office rated water near central Pattaya as poor, while rating Ko Lan, South Pattaya, Na Klua and Jomtien as fairly good. Wikipedia does not date that rating, so check current conditions.
The islands: Koh Larn next door, a full day to the Andaman sights
Pattaya's islands are close. Wikipedia lists three near islands, Ko Lan, Ko Sak and Ko Krok, about 7 kilometres from the shore, and Pattaya Mail puts Koh Larn 7.5 kilometres off the coast. The public ferry from Bali Hai Pier cost 40 baht one way from 10 April 2026, up from 30 baht, according to Pattaya Mail. Our Pattaya to Koh Larn speedboat or ferry guide compares the two ways across.
Phuket's islands are bigger and further. Wikipedia says the province has 32 smaller islands besides the main one, and the well-known boat days, to Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay and the Similans, are full days on a speedboat. Our Phi Phi day takes about an hour each way on the water from Royal Phuket Marina. If you want an island in half a day and a beach lunch, Pattaya gives you that; if you want limestone islands such as Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay, you need the Andaman side.
Weather: Pattaya is the drier of the two
On the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981 to 2010 table, the Pattaya station averages 1,110.7 mm of rain a year against 2,219.5 mm at Phuket. Pattaya's dry stretch is December to February, with 8.3, 15.6 and 14.3 mm, and its wettest months are September and October, with 204.7 and 216.1 mm. Wikipedia describes the seasons as hot and dry from December to February, hot and humid in March and April, and hot and rainy from May to November.
Phuket's pattern is wetter and longer. Its September and October figures are 361.2 and 320.1 mm, and each month from May to August averages more than 213 mm. November is the clearest gap, with 72.1 mm at Pattaya against 177.4 mm at Phuket, and December, 8.3 against 72.4. The Pattaya station sits 59 metres above sea level, so a beachfront day may feel different. Pattaya Mail says speedboat services to Koh Larn may be suspended in rough seas, particularly from May to October.
Day trips and what they cost
Our Koh Larn day from Pattaya is from $25 per person for about 6 hours. You meet at the marina on Pattaya Beach Road at about 9:00 am, or ask for pickup in the service area, and the speedboat goes to Koh Sak for about two hours of swimming and snorkelling with a paddle board, then to Koh Larn for about three hours on the beach. The price covers the boat, a guide, snorkelling gear, the paddle board and bottled water. Lunch and any parasailing, sea walk or jet ski are paid on the spot.
From Phuket the days are longer and cost more: Phi Phi from $75 for about 8.5 hours, James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay from $85 for about 8.5 hours, and the Similan Islands from $105 for 12 to 13 hours, open from 15 October to 14 May. They include more: hotel pickup and lunch on all three, and the park fee on James Bond Island and the Similans. The Koh Larn beaches are busy at weekends and on Thai holidays, so a weekday is calmer.
Character: what each place is known for
Wikivoyage describes Pattaya as a seaside resort mostly famous for its go-go and beer bars, where local authorities have tried to add family-friendly attractions, and says the sex industry is still going strong. It is also a short ride from Bangkok, which suits a few days. Our guides to things to do in Pattaya and Pattaya with kids show what is on offer beyond the bars.
Phuket's nightlife is concentrated in Patong, which Wikivoyage names as the largest beach resort and known for nightlife, while Karon, Kamala and the north offer quieter beaches and Phuket Town has an old quarter. Wikivoyage says swimming, snorkelling, diving, sailing and jet-skiing are among the more popular activities. Our Phuket Old Town walking guide and best beaches in Phuket cover the range.
Which to pick
Pick Pattaya for a short break from Bangkok, a low-cost island day and drier weather from November to February. Pick Phuket for a longer trip, Andaman scenery and the big boat days. If you have only a weekend and are already in Bangkok, Pattaya wins on distance: about 150 km by road, against 862 km to Phuket. If you have a week or more and want limestone islands, Phuket or Krabi are the choices.
Know the limits of Pattaya. Wikivoyage calls its beaches lacklustre and Wikipedia reports poor water quality near the central beaches, so for swimming the sources point to Ko Lan and Jomtien. Know the limits of our Koh Larn tour too: it is not recommended for pregnant women or guests with heart problems, and a moderate fitness level is needed. If the sea is unsafe, the operator moves the trip to another date or refunds it.
Practical checklist
- Decide how many days you have: a weekend suits Pattaya, a week or more suits Phuket.
- If you want Andaman limestone islands, plan for Phuket or Krabi; Pattaya's island is Koh Larn.
- Check the sea before swimming on Pattaya's central beaches and prefer Koh Larn or Jomtien.
- For the Koh Larn day, bring cash for lunch and any water sports, and agree the price of parasailing or a jet ski before you start.
- Visit Koh Larn on a weekday if you can, because the beaches are busy at weekends and on Thai holidays.
Questions and answers
How far is Pattaya from Bangkok?
About 150 km, according to Wikipedia, and Wikivoyage calls it a comfortable two-hour drive. Suvarnabhumi Airport is about 110 km from Pattaya, with a road transfer of 80 to 90 minutes in dry weather.
How far is Phuket from Bangkok?
About 862 km south of Bangkok, according to Wikivoyage, so most visitors fly. Wikipedia gives 17.5 million passengers at Phuket International Airport in 2025.
Is Pattaya drier than Phuket?
Yes on the Thai Meteorological Department's 1981 to 2010 table: 1,110.7 mm a year at the Pattaya station against 2,219.5 mm at Phuket. Pattaya is driest from December to February.
How much is the Koh Larn ferry?
Pattaya Mail reported that the standard fare from Pattaya to Koh Larn rose from 30 to 40 baht one way on 10 April 2026, the first rise in over 16 years. Check the price at Bali Hai Pier.
Does Pattaya have its own airport?
No commercial airport in the city itself. Wikivoyage says the nearest, U-Tapao, is 30 km south of Pattaya, is primarily a military facility and has flights to only a handful of destinations. Most visitors come by road from Bangkok.
Is the Koh Larn tour the same as the public ferry?
No. Our speedboat day adds Koh Sak for about two hours of snorkelling, then about three hours on Koh Larn, and includes a guide, snorkelling gear and a paddle board. The public ferry only crosses; lunch is extra on both.